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On this page you will find information about:
- What to do if you are supporting someone who is experiencing VAWG
- Haringey's Multi-Agency Risk Assessment Conference
- Domestic Homicide Reviews in Haringey
What to do if you are supporting someone who is experiencing VAWG
1. Identify if they are in immediate danger:
- If the person in question is in immediate danger, you should advise them to call 999 immediately or call 999 on their behalf
- Silent Solution: If the victim/survivor is unable to speak, they can press 55 after dialling 999 on their mobile phone and the police will aim to assist them without requiring them to speak
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2. Identify a safe way to communicate:
- Ensure you have a safe way of communicating with the victim/survivor so that they can speak openly with you
- You should speak to them alone (without children partners, etc present)
- If an interpreter is needed, you must not use family members, friends, or community members and you should always use an appropriate certified interpreter
- Please be mindful that perpetrators may monitor survivor’s devices and listen in on phone calls so they may not share vital information if they feel it is unsafe to do so
- Ask if, when, and how it is safe to contact them to avoid increasing risk
- You can establish a ‘codeword’ which the survivor can use to let you know if someone is listening in, or if they are in serious danger
3. Validate their experience:
- Make sure you say:
- I believe you
- It is not your fault
- Support is available
- You have a right to feel safe
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4. Refer and/or signpost them to the most appropriate VAWG service:
- Obtain consent for referral: While consent is not necessary for safeguarding referrals, you will need the consent of the survivor to make a referral to a VAWG service
- See a list of VAWG services available to Haringey residents
5. Identify if there are any safeguarding concerns:
- Regardless of whether or not the victim/survivor has consented to a referral to a VAWG support service - if you have reason to believe that a child (under 18) or a vulnerable adult is being abused, neglected, or is at serious risk of harm then you must make the relevant safeguarding referrals. Do not assume other professionals will do this. If you are unsure if the situation meets the threshold for a safeguarding referral, you should speak with the relevant Safeguarding team.
- Adults Safeguarding: 020 8489 1400 | firstresponseteam@haringey.gov.uk
- Children's Safeguarding: 020 8489 4470 | mashreferral@haringey.gov.uk
6. Identify if a Multi-Agency Risk Assessment Conference (MARAC) referral is necessary:
- All high risk Domestic Abuse cases should be referred to the MARAC, regardless of client consent. For guidance on understanding if a case is high risk and for how to make a referral, contact Standing Together via email: MARAC@standingtogether.org.uk
- You can find more information about the MARAC in the section below
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Haringey's Multi-Agency Risk Assessment Conference
The Multi Agency Risk Assessment Conference (MARAC) is a multi-agency approach to reducing the risk of serious harm or homicide, faced by high-risk victims of domestic violence.
A MARAC takes place every three weeks and involves partner agencies sharing information on the highest risk cases of domestic violence and creating a coordinated action plan to reduce the risk to the victims/survivors and their families.
Referrals are made using the Domestic Abuse Stalking Harassment and Honour Based Violence Risk Identification Checklist (DASH RIC). This checklist helps referring agencies determine the level of risk, but it can also be based on professional judgment (if a professional believes the victims/survivor to be at high risk of serious harm or homicide). The checklist builds on the most commonly used risk assessment tools but has a wider scope which includes family violence, stalking and honour-based violence.
The Haringey MARAC is coordinated by Standing Together Against Domestic Violence (STADV). Please visit the STADV website for more information (external link).
MARAC Referrals
To make a referral to the MARAC, please complete the Haringey MARAC Referral Form (Word, 149KB), and send this as a password-protected document to MARAC@standingtogether.org.uk
MARAC Training
If you are interested in receiving MARAC training for yourself or your team to better understand the MARAC process, how to assess if a case is high risk, and when to refer to MARAC, please get in touch with the MARAC Team at STADV on 020 8748 5717 or email MARAC@standingtogether.org.uk
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Domestic Homicide Reviews (DHR) in Haringey
When a person is killed by an intimate partner or a family member an independent review of the case must be conducted. Consideration to hold a Domestic Homicide Review is required by law.
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